Trifolium  plant named ‘TRIFPOT002’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Trifolium  plant named ‘TRIFPOT002’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and creeping plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; pale green-colored leaves with dark purplish brown-colored centers; numerous white-colored flowers blushed with pink arranged in dense capitula that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; tolerance to  Trifolium  fungus ( Cymadothea trifolii ); and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Trifolium repens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TRIFPOT002’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Trifolium plant, botanically known as Trifolium repens, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘TRIFPOT002’.

The new Trifolium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Malling, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely branching Trifolium plants with attractive foliage and inflorescences and resistance to Trifolium fungus (Cymadothea trifolii).

The new Trifolium plant originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2013 in Malling, Denmark of a proprietary selection of Trifolium repens identified as code number 12-074-023, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Trifolium repens identified as code designation 11-002-010, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Trifolium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malling, Denmark in March, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Trifolium plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malling, Denmark since June, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Trifolium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Trifolium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘TRIFPOT002’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘TRIFPOT002’ as a new and distinct Trifolium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and creeping plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Pale green-colored leaves with dark purplish brown-colored         centers.     -   4. Numerous white-colored flowers blushed with pink arranged in         dense capitula that are held above and beyond the foliar plane.     -   5. Tolerant to Trifolium fungus (Cymadothea trifolii).     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Trifolium can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Trifolium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection have light green-colored leaves with dark green-colored centers.

Plants of the new Trifolium can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Trifolium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Trifolium are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Trifolium and the male parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have         light green-colored leaves with dark green-colored centers.

Plants of the new Trifolium can be compared to plants of the Trifolium repens ‘Silverspur’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Malling, Denmark, plants of the new Trifolium differed from plants of ‘Silverspur’ in leaf color as plants of ‘Silverspur’ have light green-colored leaves with black-colored centers.

Plants of the new Trifolium can also be compared to plants of the Trifolium repens ‘Josephine’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Malling, Denmark, plants of the new Trifolium differed from plants of ‘Josephine’ in leaf color as plants of ‘Josephine’ have dark green-colored leaves with red-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Trifolium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Trifolium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘TRIFPOT002’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘TRIFPOT002’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Malling, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Trifolium production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Trifolium repens ‘TRIFPOT002’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Trifolium             repens identified as code number 12-074-023, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Trifolium             repens identified as code number 11-002-010, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About eight days             at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Container plant; compact, upright to             outwardly spreading and creeping plant habit; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit typically with about             20 lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 32.2 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 9.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong to strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster.—Moderately glossy.         -   Color.—Close to 143B to 143C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves alternate and compound with three             leaflets.         -   Leaf length.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Orbicular in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Obcordate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Retuse.         -   Leaflet base.—Acute.         -   Leaflet margin.—Finely serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Matte.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138C;             basal spot, close to 139B surrounded with close to between             N186C and 200B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             138B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to             between 138D and 139D; basal spot, close to N137B surrounded             with close to between N186C and 200B to 200C; central color             becoming closer to 200C with development; venation, close to             139B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to             between 138B and 139C; venation, close to 143B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 12.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Small papilionaceous             flowers arranged in dense capitula that are held above and             beyond the foliar plane; continuous and freely flowering             habit with about 52 flowers developing per capitulum and             about 2,000 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             mostly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden from             the spring until the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers maintain good substance for about             one week on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 mm by 5 mm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 8 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Oblanceolate. Color: Calyx, close to 145C and 145D;             developing petals, close to NN155D tinged with close to 75D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl; one             banner or vexillum petal, two wing or lateral petals and two             lower petals fused to form a sheath or keel enclosing the             reproductive organs; petals fused toward the base. Length,             banner petal: About 1 cm. Length, lateral petals: About             7 mm. Length, lower petals: About 6 mm. Width, banner petal:             About 4 mm. Width, lateral petals: About 1.5 mm. Width,             lower petals: About 0.5 mm. Shape, banner petal: Obovate.             Shape, lateral petals: Elliptical. Shape, lower petals:             Ovate. Apex, banner and lower petals: Shallowly retuse.             Apex, lateral petals: Acute. Base, all petals: Fused.             Margin, all petals: Entire. Texture, all petals, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, all petals, upper             and lower surface: Matte. Color, banner petal: When opening,             upper surface: Close to NN155D tinged with close to 75C;             venation, close to 75C. When opening, lower surface: Close             to NN155D; towards the apex, tinged with close to 75C;             towards the base, tinged with close to 145C. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D slightly tinged             with close to 75C; venation, close to 75C; color does not             change with development. Color, lateral petals: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B. Color,             lower petals: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 157D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             157D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a             campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About             0.75 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C and 145D.             Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Fused portion, close             to 145C and 145D; free portion, close to N138B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 40° from lateral             branch. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 80° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 152A to             152B.         -   Reproductive organ.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament color:             Close to 145D. Anther shape: Flattened orbicular; basifixed.             Anther length: About 0.02 mm. Anther color: Close to 11A.             Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11C.             Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 3 mm. Style length: About             2.75 cm. Style texture: Smooth, glabrous. Style color: Close             to 145D. Stigma appearance: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close             to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Trifolium. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Trifolium have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and high     temperatures about 40° C.; plants of the new Trifolium are     winter-hardy and are hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 4. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Trifolium have been     observed to be tolerant to Trifolium fungus (Cymadothea trifolii).     Plants of the new Trifolium have not been observed to be resistant     to pests and other pathogens common to Trifolium plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Trifolium plant named ‘TRIFPOT002’ as illustrated and described. 